No matter what happens in the regular season home stretch, Keystone is guaranteed a share of the Lorain County League championship.
On Feb. 4, the Wildcats punched their ticket to back-to-back conference championships with a 45-36 win over Columbia.
“This game was the only game that mattered,” Keystone’s coach Rocky Houston said. “Columbia is not going to lose its last (two LC8) games. We have to win this game if we want to win a share of this conference. We did what we needed to do. The girls played fantastic.”
Columbia struck first and hard in the first quarter to lead 11-4. Elise Champagne (13 points) scored six of the team’s 11 first quarter.
Keystone countered with a 14-2 run in the second quarter to take the lead and didn’t give it back for the rest of the game. The Wildcats outscored the Raiders, 18-4, in the second half.
Keystone dominates second quarter to lead 22-15 at halftime@MJournalSports @CHSRaiders @KLSD_Sports pic.twitter.com/yrSsBLBYT0
— Mark Perez-Krywany 🤓 (@MarkPerezK10) February 4, 2023
Defense seems to be Keystone’s strong-suit against Columbia in the second quarter. The Wildcats shut out the Raiders at home earlier in the year, as they won the first matchup, 39-34.
"We did pretty well against (Keystone's) 2-3 zone which was what we struggled against last time. Then, (Houston) goes man-to-man and we can't find a bucket," Columbia coach Corey Taylor said. "That second quarter is a testament to what Rocky (Houston) is doing with them. They can defend all five positions and they did a really good job against us."
Wildcats' guard Delaney Peters found her stride in the second quarter. She went scoreless in the first quarter to score nine in the second. Peters scored 13 to lead the team.
Peters leads the Wildcats with nine points. All of them came in to a second quarter.@MJournalSports @CHSRaiders @KLSD_Sports pic.twitter.com/319w6gpDhb
— Mark Perez-Krywany 🤓 (@MarkPerezK10) February 4, 2023
"I struggled in the first quarter for sure. I think it was just nerves. Coach (Houston) told us to play our game today and that's what we did," she said.
Rylee Jedrzejek impressed, as a backup point guard to the injured Helayna Houston. She had four assists with one point.
"Rylee (Jedrzejek) stepping up after Helayna got hurt was huge," Peters said. "Her biggest thing was looking for curling or popping at the top (of the key). Her passes were great today."
Coach Houston also expressed how impressed he was with her performance, along with teammate Vivian Cassell (11 points).
"I thought Rylee (Jedrzejek) did really well. At the beginning, she was going really fast and (I) was trying to get her to slow down... She finally slowed down and she played a lot better. I can't say enough about Vivian Cassell, because she is the one who we put into that point guard position."
Houston was injured in the fourth quarter of Keystone's 69-26 win over Oberlin. Keystone played its third game without her. Coach Houston emphasized that everyone has to step up, not just one person.
"Everybody just has to do a little bit more," coach Houston said. "One person shouldn't do all of Helayna (Houston) did. Everyone should do a little bit more in the areas that I'm telling you to do and we will be fine."
Brooklyn Barber (10) and Jessica Forthofer (10) also scored in double-digits. Fothofer collected 14 rebounds for a double-double.
Keystone maintains its lead with the score 29-19 in Q3@MJournalSports @CHSRaiders @KLSD_Sports pic.twitter.com/B1ePtt70K5
— Mark Perez-Krywany 🤓 (@MarkPerezK10) February 4, 2023
"(Forthofer) is a mismatch against some teams. Against (Columbia) we knew that she was a mismatch and we would try and exploit some of that stuff," said coach Houston.
Barber hit back-to-back 3-pointers down the stretch in the fourth quarter to maintain Keystone's lead.
Keystone improved to 18-2 (12-1 in LC8). Its final conference game will be at home against Firelands on Feb. 8. Firelands handed Keystone one of its two losses on the year. The Wildcats plan on playing spoiler with a championship banner in their hands.
"Now we have to get refocused and remotivated to win conference outright," Houston said.
Columbia dropped to 16-3 (10-2 in LC8). Two of its three losses on the season were at the hands of Keystone. The Raiders will play their next game against Brookside on Feb. 6, as they look to take a share of the LC8 title.
PHOTOS: Columbia vs. Keystone girls basketball, Feb. 4, 2023
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